Generator Excitation: Selection, Commissioning, Operation, Maintenance, Testing and Troubleshooting Course

Course Overview:

The course addresses in detail power generation systems with an emphasis on electrical concepts, generator function, and improvement in power systems efficiency.

The students will get familiar with the generator design, different types of synchronizing techniques, load sharing and earth systems over voltage and frequency regulation. 

The course includes study of generator protective relays, excitation and recent developments such as capability charts and earthing techniques. It is targeted at engineers and technicians from public services, factories, oil industry, as well as office buildings. 

The course covers practical methods to improving generator efficiency, decreasing costs and enhancing the dependability of power electricity generation systems. An Introduction to electrical concepts and power distribution systems is preferred.

Course Objectives:

Participants will have enough knowledge to achieve reduced capital, operating, and maintenance costs along with an increase in efficiency of power generation. During the duration of this course, participants will understand and learn the following:-

• Refresh of Electrical Fundamentals & Basics (Power types, power factor, inductance,).
• Understand practical power distribution fundamentals & Different layouts.
• The fundamentals and basics of generators.
• How to control the frequency and voltage.
• Gain knowledge of synchronization methods and conditions;
• Understand the need for load sharing & shedding processes.
• The earthing system for generators.
• The different protection needed for generators.

Who Should Attend?

Engineers and Technicians from Electrical Power Utilities Companies, Manufactures, Engineering professionals, Petrochemical Companies, and Commercial Buildings are recommended to attend. Participants need to have some specific basic understanding of Electricity and Magnetism and knowledge of nature and operation of Power supply and distribution system.

Course Outlines:

Review of Electrical Parameters & Fundamentals

• DC Circuits.
• Kirchoff’s Laws.
• Circuit Analysis.
• Power and Energy Dissipation.
• Bridge Measurements.
• Faraday’s Law.
• Energy stored in an inductor.
• Capacitance
• Energy Stored in a capacitor.
• AC Circuits & Power Factor.
• Power Dissipation.
• Power Supplies & Power types (Triangle).
• Three Phase Connections (Delta/Star).
• Magnetic Circuits. ​

AC Generators Basics, Theories & Construction

• Prime mover (Gas Turbines & Diesel).
• Generator Basics.
• The Synchronous Machine: Preliminaries.
• P-Pole Machines.
• Cylindrical vs. Salient-Pole Construction.
• Generator Field MMF.
• Synchronous Generator Construction.
• The Speed of Rotation of a Synchronous Generator.
• The Equivalent Circuit of a Synchronous Generator.
• The Phasor Diagram of a Synchronous Generator.
• Power in Synchronous Generators.
• The Synchronous Generator Operating Alone.
• Principal Steady-State Characteristics. 
• Winding Insulation.
• Cooling of Generators.
• Insulated Bearings.
• Synchronous generators & Short circuit.
• Machine Reactance Modeling. ​

Synchronous Generator Ratings & Capability Diagram

• Synchronous Generator Ratings & Capability Diagram.
• Machine Ratings.
• Apparent Power.
• Power Factor.
• Real Power.
• Terminal Voltage.
• Stator Current.
• Field Voltage.
• Field Current.
• The Voltage, Speed, and Frequency Ratings.
• Synchronous Generator Capability Curves.
• The Generator’s Capability Diagram – Typical Case.
• Short-Time Operation and Service Factor.
• Generator Machine Losses.
• Monitored Parameters.
• Generator Electrical Parameters.
• Example of using the Capability curve. ​

Earthing Systems & Neutral Earthing of Generator

• Equipment Earthing.
• System Earthing.
• Unearthed systems.
• Solid earthing.
• Resistance earthing.
• Reactance earthing.
• Classification o Supply / Installation System Earthing.
• Sensing of Ground/Earth faults
• Earthing Via Neutral Earthing Compensator.
• Distribution transformers.
• Zig-Zag transformers.
• Comparison of Methods (Advantages/Disadvantages).
• Evaluation of earthing methods.
• Testing the earthing electrode Resistance & Earthing grids.​

Excitation System, AVR & PSS

• Excitation Systems.
• Excitation System Requirements.
• Generator considerations.
• Power system considerations.
• Elements of an Excitation System.​

Types of Generator Excitation Systems and Voltage Control